Burtonsville Man Sentenced to Over 9 Years in Prison for the Armed Robbery of a Convenience Store

Brandished a Gun During the Robbery

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Donnell Edward Harris, age 22, of Burtonsville, Maryland, today to 117 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for robbing a convenience store in Waldorf, Maryland, and to brandishing a gun during the robbery.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William P. McMullan of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry.

According to Harris’ plea agreement, on September 11, 2013, Harris, Charles Johnson and Madani Tejan robbed a convenience store on St. Ignatius Drive in Waldorf. Harris brandished a firearm during the robbery and the conspirators forced the store employee at gunpoint to open the store’s cash register. The robbers stole $90 in cash and several packs of cigarettes.

Harris also admitted that after he was arrested for the robbery and while he was incarcerated, he threatened to hurt co-conspirator Charles Johnson if Johnson did not lie to law enforcement by stating that he (Johnson) had brandished the firearm during the robbery.

Johnson, age 21, of Beltsville, Maryland, and Madani Ilara Tejan, age 33, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to the robbery, and were sentenced to 51 months in prison and 68 months in prison, respectively.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the ATF, Montgomery County Police Department and Charles County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Leah J. Bressack and Daniel Gardner, who prosecuted the case.